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Cox&Kings gets high court stay on Kumbh eviction

Y Siva Sankar in Bombay and Sharat Pradhan in Kumbh Nagar, Allahabad

The Allahabad high court on Friday granted a stay order in favour of Cox & Kings India Limited, a travel operator that was asked to leave town by the Kumbh Mela organisers, after sadhus protested against the company's "five-star invasion" of a religious event.

The stay order is valid till Tuesday, January 16, when the court will hear the matter, company officials said in Bombay. But a Press Trust of India report said the high court granted a "status quo" order.

Unconfirmed reports from Allahabad hinted that the court merely granted the company time till January 16 to leave.

According to the divisional commissioner in charge of the festival, the court has asked the administration to offer an alternative site to the company where it can shift its camp.

Cox&Kings officials in Bombay said they hope to receive a copy of the court order by Saturday.

The company had erected luxury cottage tents for foreign and Indian tourists visiting Allahabad to witness the mela. Business was brisk and all the tents were sold out well in advance.

But sadhus in the town alleged that the business venture was vitiating the sacred atmosphere and sought action.

Sensing trouble, the festival administration asked Cox & Kings to leave Allahabad.

Interview with L P Singh, chief operating officer, Cox&Kings

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